Command Decisions: Samurai vs. Yeomen RA 6.4

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
January 10, 1942

OK. We're adding to the sinking as we complete Day 3 of the Battle of Johnston Isle.

There were Sinking SOUNDS TWICE during the turn. Hmmm...a couple of ships went down...

North Pacific
Will be unloading troops at Umnak. The 4 CL and 4 DD will then sweep Dutch Harbor looking for those two old DDs.

Central Pacific
Midway
An AS and AG disband into the Port. The 11th Inf Regiment arrives and begins unloading. Once the 11th is unloaded, we'll lift the SNLF Assault Brigade up and send it to Tabitueau where it will get ready for 'Southern Operations.'

With apologies to my FAVORITE AAR EVER, SS Cuttlefish is crippled by 6 DC and heavily damaged.

CARDIV1
Weather continues to hamper operations. Morning saw 18 Val turn back and the afternoon witnessed 22 Kates turn back. WASTED sorties!

This being said, action does occur. The morning sees a strike of 22 Zero and 11 Vals hit CA Chester (I thought it was sunk) with two Bombs and DD Fanning with a single bomb. Chester is dead meat next turn.

The afternoon sees a large strike flown at a DD TF south of Johnston: 10 Zero, 50 Val, and 18 Kate. Results are quite nice as DDs Crane, Bagley, Kilty, and Porter are sunk.

Move a LITTLE closer to see if we can catch anything else.

Johnston Isle
The SNLF Assault Brigade begins closing in to its target. The remnants of Enterprise's air group is there. Be nice to finish off her planes. To protect the Invasion Force from those damned PBYs, I order CVE Taiyo to link up and provide CAP for the ships.

The BB Bombardment Force moved out from Palmyra and will hit the base in two days. We'll time this will the landing.

SS Operations
I-25 MISSES shots at CL Honolulu and DD Ellet.
I-4 MISSES DD Humphreys

I tighten up the SS Patrol Areas for next turn. There will be a BUNCH of SS operating in a fairly small box.

INTERESTING
Plane loss stats for this turn show 13 SBD destroyed operationally. Did YOU KNOW WHO SINK??!!

SE Pacific
Calm.

South Pacific
Lae
CL Leander and Adelaide have been loitering here for DAYS. Send in a STF of 4 CA, 2 CL, and 11 DD to meet and greet them. The battle lasts ten rounds with Leander getting heavily damaged, Adelaide coming off a little lighter, and DD Le Hardi in sinking condition.

Manus gains 27 Kates to fly out of its Sz-2 AF.

Philippines
Nothing major.

Borneo
Lift the 65th Brigade from Bandgermasin and order it to take Tarakan.

Java
Batavia
Order the 4th ID and 35th Brigade to attack.

Malaya--Sumatra
Need 3-4 days before I am ready to embark troops for Perth. Use those days by breaking down the 18th ID. They three units will invade that base south of Singapore, Medan, and Langgsa. We'll grab those bases, return to Singers, and then head for Kangaroo land...

Burma
Raheang
A total of 27 Fighters take on 9 AVG and shoot down 3 of them in exchange for one Oscar.

[John 3rd]

The move for tomorrow's action:

[John 3rd]

Had this email exchange today and thought I would place it into the AAR. You'll have to start at the bottom and work up to my long note to Jim and Larry:


Larry: Jim wrote this note below talking about things and I felt that I needed to respond to both of you so we’re in good shape.

Let us just start with some basics:
1. You guys have a lot of enthusiasm for the game but don’t have a ton of experience.
2. I have BUNCHES of experience and love to push things right to the edge: Witness The Hawaiian Operation presently.

The AAR:
That you are getting lots of advice is a great thing. I tend to get very little because are reading and trying to learn from the AAR. Many read both AARs so they don’t feel like they should contribute too much with mine. When you get advice always remember it is from that individuals perspective. They may have lots of experience and KNOW what they are doing or they may not. Got to sort the wheat from the chaff there but make sure you listen and learn from those providing good and sound thinking.

A few observations about what I have seen to this point in the game:
1. You need to come up with some sort of strategy for defending against the rampaging Son of Nippon. Due to my Strategic Goals you have had several places practically ignored to this point of the game: Eastern DEI, NW Australia, the entire South Pacific. I would hope you have moved stuff around here, picked up and placed troops and LCUs where you want them and have aircraft resting/training for the inevitable moment those areas go HOT.

2. I am getting lots of sinkings through piecemeal movement of ships. You’ve got to concentrate your warships and/or swing them out of Harm’s Way. Case in point is Enterprise. You got tipped off that my CVs were moving north when they launched that air strike at the Pensacola. I very carefully laid a trap for you. I dangled that Invasion Force just at the edge of your PBYs in an effort to draw you out and then cut in behind with my CVs. It worked perfectly until the damned weather intervened. If you had had two or three CVs I would have jumped at attacking the Japanese. One in a direct fight was/is suicide. Perhaps you thought there was only CARDIV1 (Akagi-Kaga-Zuiho) present? The addition of Ryujo and two CVEs really made an impact. Took my 180+ planes to 240+. If that was the case then I understand the choice. If not then it was a suicide mission.

3. That bag of ships I got at Singapore and the fight at Lae last turn speak to other issues. You have to move stuff out of Harm’s Way. Those CLs stayed at Lae for nearly 10 days. You had to expect that I would come for them at some point. I held off because I thought it was a trap placed there to lure my warships in and get attacked by Carriers or A-24s en masse.

Things are not out of hand presently. They could become that way though. I have sunk a crap load of ships and want more!

Patience is the key. I’ve been on the American side stressing and getting depressed as the steamroller gets going feeling like I cannot DO ANYTHING to stop it. Sitting back, getting your convoys organized, and concentrating your shipping takes a couple of months. It is tedious and BORING. Taking action for action’s sake does not work. Taking action with a firm strategy in mind DOES.

This game is all about learning curve. Simply takes time and patience.

If you two need time to take a turn and do a thorough one side of the board to the other side of the board examination of your forces and planning this would be more then fine with me. It never hurts to do some serious time-consuming thinking and planning.

On that note, I am going to a Training in Golden, CO next Mon—Tues—Thurs—Fri to become a Certified Subway Manager. The days will run from 6am-5pm and I will not get a lot done other then sleep. Might be good time to use for you guys.

I apologize if this note is too strong or comes across wrong. I’m simply trying to help and keep everyone involved.

Warmly,
John


Subject: Re: 1-9-42

sure I just got back home... sorry for the late reply.

----- Original Message -----


Can I reply to this and include Larry so he sees your comments that I respond to?

Running turn.


From: Jim Moore


Yeah, and I think I was pretty on the mark with my estimates... and I'm taking credit for round 2!

2 sunk DD's vs. 1CA and 1 CVL damaged is acceptable days work... <grin>

There is quite a discussion on the AAR, it got a little testy about how much Larry and I are losing to you... I keep pointing out that Larry is a novice as an Allied player and it shows, so its my fault for dragging him into the game where his deficiencies would show...

A couple posters say thier only offering advice, but I really bitched at them (I was overreacting but I had a bad day) that it isn't constructive criticism - just pointing out we're gonna lose if we lose more ships, is like telling me the suns going to rise in the east tomorrow...

I'm pretty sure we will lose, but I AM having fun trying to hold my own. Now Larry read the AAR and he wrote it isn't going to be fun anymore because he thinks he's holding me back in playing you. I told him I'm in it for the game and the experience of playing a high profile player like yourself, the end result isn't the object for me... having fun gaining experience is!

Larry hasn't replied as of yet....

But here's the turn

Jim

[janh]

Congrats on this successful trap! I didn't think he do more with Enterprise then to tease. Maybe his recon showed only CVL/CVE, or perhaps he suspected it from a different direction and gambled. No matter, your plan is falling into place like a charm. Might be Larry is quite a risk taker, or he underestimated the benefits for the IJ in RA compared to stock scen 1. Anyway, his playstyle is certainly more exciting for both sides than a clean Sir Robin till the "big hammers" start coming online.

The whole success makes me wonder whether it might be possible to put up a blockade between PH and the West Coast now? It most likely isn't in the cards simultaneously with the next steps you are planning, but it might bring on further naval encounters (though quite deep in their AO) and delay setting up PH as forward basis for your opponents' '43 moves.

[zuluhour]

speechless....

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: janh

Congrats on this successful trap! I didn't think he do more with Enterprise then to tease. Maybe his recon showed only CVL/CVE, or perhaps he suspected it from a different direction and gambled. No matter, your plan is falling into place like a charm. Might be Larry is quite a risk taker, or he underestimated the benefits for the IJ in RA compared to stock scen 1. Anyway, his playstyle is certainly more exciting for both sides than a clean Sir Robin till the "big hammers" start coming online.

The whole success makes me wonder whether it might be possible to put up a blockade between PH and the West Coast now? It most likely isn't in the cards simultaneously with the next steps you are planning, but it might bring on further naval encounters (though quite deep in their AO) and delay setting up PH as forward basis for your opponents' '43 moves.

There really isn't too much difference between the IJN at THIS point and in Scen 1. I've got two additional CVL, a modern CL, and 4 AA DDs. That is just about all there is in additions presently.

It is an EXCITING play style but I will crush him if he tries this stuff so early. Don't know if I, in fact, got Enterprise or not. Evidence says YES but I won't believe it until it is FACT.

I do want try to apply the Commerce War angle to the area around PH. Don't think it is possible but could certainly be FUN!


NOTE: I am taking my Official Subway Managerial Certification course this week in Denver. Will get a raise as well as take my first steps towards ownership of my franchise. Today has been a 15 hour day with four more to go. There will be no turns until Saturday. This gives the guys time to get their SH*T together and hopefully get organized. Thought readers should know!

[Cribtop]

Congrats!

Now quit your job and get back to AE! [:D]

[ny59giants]

Who knew making a sub was so technical?? [;)]

[janh]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
There really isn't too much difference between the IJN at THIS point and in Scen 1. I've got two additional CVL, a modern CL, and 4 AA DDs. That is just about all there is in additions presently.

It is an EXCITING play style but I will crush him if he tries this stuff so early. Don't know if I, in fact, got Enterprise or not. Evidence says YES but I won't believe it until it is FACT.

I do want try to apply the Commerce War angle to the area around PH. Don't think it is possible but could certainly be FUN!

NOTE: I am taking my Official Subway Managerial Certification course this week in Denver. Will get a raise as well as take my first steps towards ownership of my franchise. Today has been a 15 hour day with four more to go. There will be no turns until Saturday. This gives the guys time to get their SH*T together and hopefully get organized. Thought readers should know!

Congrats on the Management course! A year starting quite successfully!

True, up to this point the force balance is similar as you say. I was thinking more about the additional CV and conversions that will show up later. Those would keep me seriously worried as an Allied player, so worried that loosing anything bigger than a CL in any counter-ops aside the fool-proof ones would be a no go.

The dozen SBD ops looses and the sinking sound might very well have been EP. I guess the probabilty is very high, higher than for her survivial. In my experience ops losses quite clearly indicate a sinking, but no ops losses don't in turn rule out a sinking. I suppose her having sortied alone means that there is no other CV anywhere close, so commerce hunting with limited assets might be a low hanging fruit? In the end you'd not need to shut down PH's lines to slow its build up as a launching point for the Allied reconquest. And you'd force the Allied side to bind an inequal heavy warships as escorts when they are direly needed elsewhere. Sounds like a good economy of force for any IJ player?

[John 3rd]

Am home after a grueling week of courses. Passed with a 93% (I bribed the teacher with $100.00 [;)]). This is the first step to becoming an Owner/Partner in the Subway system so it was important to do well. Just sent an email out to the boys that I am willing and ready to start turns up again tomorrow. We'll see what happens...

[Cribtop]

Only 93%! Bah. Go again and don't come back with less than 98%!

Just kidding of course. Congrats and looking forward to the resumption of hostilities. Not sure what I would do in their position. A bit of a mess so far with too many naval losses. It will be interesting to see how they respond.

[John 3rd]

Their pain is only gonna get worse.

Time to bring the CVs to Kwajalein where they can rest and refit. They will be joined by CARDIV5 and then the TRUE PAIN will begin!

[John 3rd]

Jim has finally gotten his computer fixed and we just ran our first turn in nearly two weeks. Will Post again in a few minutes.

[John 3rd]

The Japanese Submarine Fleet has had an amazing run so far in this campaign. Am going to compile a 'kill/damage' list to Post in the next day or two.

Here is the action for January 11th and 12th:

January 11th
I-9 and I-21 miss DD Dunlap and AM Grebe respectively near Pearl Harbor.

January 12th
I-25 SINKS DD Balch near Pearl Harbor
I-7 SINKS AM Vireo near Pearl Harbor
I-123 SINKS CL De Ruyter with a pair of TTs near Soerabaja

NICE!

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
January 11-12, 1942

We get back into the action as the Japanese Operation near Johnston Isle winds down. The ending of this battle (with the capture of Johnston Isle on the 12th) effectively ENDS Phase ONE of Japanese Operations.

Time to get some R&R and then begin PHASE TWO.

North Pacific
Dutch Harbor
After dropping off two Construction units at Umnak, 4 CL and 4 DD sweep into Dutch Harbor. They encounter two survivors of the Philippines: DDs Pope and Peary. A pair of clashes results in both American DDs being sunk and light damage done to the Japan TF.

Central Pacific
Midway
This base now has teeth. An Air Flotilla arrives and crowds into the over-crowded base. Total is roughly 13,000 presently. Tomorrow will see the lifting off a Base Force and SNLF Assault Brigade. This should bring the numbers done to about 6,000. An AR, AS, AG, and AKE are now disbanded here. Several small TK are unloading so I can open the base for Raiders.

Johnston Isle
The battle winds down as CARDIV1 moves west taking a position to cover the invasion. The 11th sees the Carriers sink DD Fanning and damage Balch.

The Invasion Force moves in on the 12th and finds two American TF present. BB Hyuga and 7 DD make quick work of 2 DMS, 1 AG, 2 AVP, and 1 AVD. NICE! Add six more ships tot he battle's bag limit. BB Ise provides bombardment power as the SNLF Assault unit easily takes the base. Piece of cake!

Line Islands
A Raiding TF of CA Kinugasa, CL Oi, and 2 DD encounter 4 American DDs east of Christmas Isle. Looks like my enemies were trying to slip a Raiding TF of their own into shipping present there. The Japanese come off second best taking damage to the CL and a DD while crippling one DD and smacking another around pretty good. Probably sunk at least one of them.


TIME OUT. Time to put the boys to bed.

[John 3rd]

Gonna have to wait until morning to finish my Posting: SORRY!

[John 3rd]

Got to get ready to go to work and computer ATE my finished AAR entry. Will have to do that later on when I get home.

Thought I would provide a summary of KNOWN American ships sunk in the five day Battle of Johnston Isle:

SUNK:
CV Enterprise!!!
I asked and got this answer from Jim: YES you sank the “Big E” IIRC it was 3 torps and a boatful of bombs... damage/fires were in the 90’s and in red across the board. I really thought she could catch your invasion fleet before your CV’s steamed north. Recon did see you. You MUST of went all ahead full to get in range. Aggravating Tactical Blunder on my part...

CA Pensacola, Salt Lake City, and Chester
DD Lawrence, Crane, Bagley, Kilty, Porter, Fanning, and Balch

2 DMS, 1 AM, 1 AG, 2 AVP, 1 AVD

DAMAGED:
CA Northampton
CL Helena, Honolulu, Concord
DD 6-9


The sinking of CV Enterprise is HUGE! Her loss made the entire gamble/trap worth it and highly successful.



Jim and Larry are reorganizing their command and control. Looks like Jim will take on more of the operational control while Larry handles SS, Logistics, and some other minor areas.
.

[John 3rd]

Reluctant Admiral 6.6
Samurai vs. Yoemen
SS Sinkings/Damaged

January 15, 1942

Here are the numbers:

Ro-Class

Ro-34
AKL Fortune San Jose 12-07-41
AKL Regulus Zanboanga 12-08-41

Ro-63
AP Koolinda Port Moresby 12-11-41
TK Sunchaser Port Moresby 12-12-41

Ro-65
CL Perth Palm Isle 12-13-41

Ro-66
AK Alcoa Pathfinder Pago Pago 12-11-41
AK Dardanus Pago Pago 12-15-41

Ro-67
AP Mungana (D) Nadi 12-13-41
AK Nisqually (D) Nadi 12-15-41
AK Steel Age Nadi 12-15-41

Minelayer SS

I-121
AP Dominion Monarch (D) Toboali 12-08-41
AVP Poolster Batavia 12-09-41
AK Wing Sang (D) Batavia 12-14-41

I-122
AS Janssens (D) Oosthaven 12-07-41

I-123
AP Kota Radja (D) Banjoewangi 12-07-41
AK Tjikand (D) Banjoewangi 12-09-41
AP Ville de Verdun (D) Parmakasan 12-19-41
CL De Ruyter Parmakasan 01-12-42

I-124
AP Vanden Bosch Soerabaja 12-09-41

I-Boats

I-1
AO Var (D) Noumea 12-07-41
AKL Loyaute Noumea 12-07-41
AO Var Noumea 12-08-41
AKL Loyaute Noumea 12-08-41

I-2
AP Cap Padaran Isle of Pines 12-07-41
TK Herborg Brisbane 12-16-41
AK Yochow New Castle 12-17-41

I-3
AK Cagou Isle of Pines 12-07-41

I-4
APD Waters Channel Isle 12-08-41
AP Poelauhaut (D) San Lius Obispo 12-08-41
PC Hermes San Diego 12-16-41

I-5
PC Daphne San Fransisco 12-31-41
PC Ariadne San Fransisco 01-03-42

I-6 Mine Channel Isles 12-20-41

I-7
AO Sabine San Fransisco 12-08-41
AM Vireo Lihue 01-12-42

I-9
AK Iron Knight Palmyra 01-02-42
AK Iron Chieftain (D) Palmyra 01-02-42
DD Dunlap (D) Pearl Harbor 01-11-42

I-10
AK Ruth Alexander Pago Pago 12-10-41
AP President Jackson Pago Pago 12-12-41

I-21
AM Grebe Pearl Harbor 01-11-42

I-25
DD Balch Lihue 01-12-42

I-26
AK Aroturus Channel Ilse 12-13-41

I-153
AP Hong Peng (D) Sepandjang 12-19-41
AK Gold Star Denpasar 01-13-42

I-154
AP Van Cloon Soerabaja 12-08-41

I-155 Mine Palembang 12-10-41
AP Kedah Muntok 12-07-41
TK Anastasia (D) Palembang 12-09-41
TK Francol Palembang 12-09-41

I-157
AK Clan Maciver (D) Koggala 12-10-41

I-158
AP Indora Columbo 12-11-41

I-160
AK Haresfield (D) Koggala 12-11-41
AK Talthibius Koggala 12-11-41
TK Lady Myrtle Trincomalee 12-13-41

I-162
AKL Nanchang Diamond Harbor 01-02-42

I-164
AK Nirvana (D) Rangoon 12-22-41

I-165
TK Augustina Oosthaven 12-07-41
AK Demodocus Oosthaven 12-10-41

I-166
AP Kepong Lingga 12-07-41
TK Pan Scandia (D) Muntok 12-09-41
AK Demothenes Muntok 12-10-41
AKL Orishany Muntok 12-10-41

I-168
AK Hauraki (D) Savaii 12-16-41
AK Silksworth Tau 12-22-41
TK Belita (D) Pago pago 12-23-41

I-169
AP President Monroe (D) Pago Pago 12-10-41
AP President Monroe (D) Pago Pago 12-11-41

I-173
TK Eidsvold Palmyra 12-17-41
AP Raranga (D) Palmyra 12-21-41


Japanese Losses:
I-6 and I-155


Allied Warships Sunk/Damaged
SUNK: CL Perth and DeRuyter, DD Balch
DAMAGED: DD Dunlap

Other Allied Ships Sunk/Damaged
AK 13—8
AKL 6---0
AP 8---9
TK 6---3
AO 2---0
AVP 1---0
APD 1---0
PC 3---0
AM 2---0
AS 0---1

Total Allied Losses: 45 Sunk and 22 Damaged

[zuluhour]

That's over 20% of my losses for a year. Mighty fine hunting sir. It's going to be a long '42 for them losing ships at such a prodigious rate. At mid December '42 myself, I can only see a trickle of what's to come. Those "presidential" APs are my prime movers for large US formations. There are not many. I'm reading both sides so I can't comment to much but I feel safe to say I would have been surprised by your opening and would have been reeling, only with more ships. lol.

[Lecivius]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd


Jim and Larry are reorganizing their command and control. Looks like Jim will take on more of the operational control while Larry handles SS, Logistics, and some other minor areas.
.

Good. You always fear that someone will loose hope & bail in the face of such an onslaught. Kudos to them for soldiering on